Bean-snipper



N. A. JOHANNES. BEAN SNLPPER. APPLICATION, FILED JUNE 2!,1919.

Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- INVE-NTEIR- 77.Q.M EJY WW N. A. JOHANNES.

BEAN SNIPPEYR- APPLICATION. FILED JUNE 21. 1919.

Patented Dec. 13, 1921.-

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- ATTmRNEf PATENT OFFICE.

, UNITED STATES,

' BEAN-SNIPPER.

Application filed June 21,

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that NIoHoLAs A. JoHANNns,"

a citizen of the United States, residing at Port ll ashington, in the county of Ozaukee and State of lVisconsimhas invented a cer-' tain new and usefullmprovement in Beanlilnippers, of which the following is a specilication. I i

This invention relates in general to improvements in the construction and opera.- ticn of devices for automatically handling, transporting, dressing, cutting and otherw e treating elongated bodies of more or irregular shape. More specifically, the lZRYE-Zltliin relates to improvements in machines for automatically feeding, end snip ping ant cutting up ve etables such as beans and the like, preparatory to packing the same in containers such tin cans and glass jars.

All object of the invention'is to provide devices for automa ically transporting and dressing elongated bodies, especially vegees such beans or the'like, which de are functions. Another object of the incient bean snipper having enormous cau ae- I.

Some of the more specific ob ects or the nvention may be enumerated as follows:

To provide instriunentahties for automatically and rapidly feeding elongated bodies ceans or 1 like, without wasting material which is available for food.

-. es for cutting relatively soft elongated or ies such as beans, into uniform lengths for use ring in relatively small provide a readily adjustable, simple Specification of Letters Patent.

i simple in their construction and which will eficiently perform their contem= ion is to provide a simple, compact and mor or less irregular shape and varying provide simple, com eact and efficient Patented Dec. 13, 1921. 1919. Serial No. 305,824.

and durable cutting element for dressing and slicing vegetables and the like.

To provide highly sanitary mechanism for tran-sportin and otherwise handling vegetables and the like, all portions of which are readily accessible for cleaning, inspection and repairs.

To provide means for reversing the beans after one end thereof has been removed, and for effectively placing the beans into the path of a snipper.

To provide a so-called bean snipper which may be safely operated with minimum expenditure of power, and which may be constructed at minimum cost of manufacture.

To provide means whereby various elements of a bean snipper or the like may be readily and accurately adjusted to accommodate various conditions of operation.

To provide various other improved details in the construction and operation of bean snippers and the like, which will increase to a maximum the efficiency of operation and which'will simplify the structure of such machines.

While the invention will be described and shown herein as applied specifically to bean shippers, it will be obvious that the general principles are more generally applicable. The term bean is intended to refer to any elon ated bod 1 havin' characteristics similar to those of a bean pod. Other terms employed herein should also be given the broadest interpretation consistant with the prior art, and should not be given unduly limited interpretations.

A clear conception of an embodiment of the'invention and of the operation of a device constructed in accordance with the principles thereof may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, in which like refer ence characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic vertical section through an'automatic bean feeder, snipper, cutter and a fragment of picking table, showing schematically the manner in which the beans are prepared for packing in containers.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the mechanism for communicating power from a common power source to the bean feeder, shippers, cutter and picking table.

Fig. 6 is an end view of one of thepock et forming elements, showing the manner of attachment thereof to one of the pocket advancing chains, and showing also the device for'jarring the pockets as they pass themtating cutters.

The bean snipper disclosed inthe drawings comprises in general an automatic feeding device for properly positioning and feed- 7 ing the beans, a continuously movable endless transporting and inverting element, a

plurality of rapidly rotating dressing devices illustrated as cutters, and suitable guides, guards and other mechanism for maintainingthe beans 1n proper relatlon to the cutters and for guiding and transporting them through the sequence of operation. These elements as well as the cutter for slicing the beans into predetermined lengths and the picking table, are driven by suitablegearing associated with a common source of power such as an electric motor or a line shaft. Any suitable type of gearing may be employed to communicate motion to the several elements. The various elements are mounted in suitable stationary framing of ordinary form which has been omitted in order to simplify the disclosure. 7 'The automatic feeding device disclosed in Figs; 1 and 2 comprises a longitudinally reciprocable, vertically oscillatory, inclined feed plate 3 supported at its lower end upon a stationarily mounted rotary roller 21a'nd associatedat its upper end'with a stationarily'mounted rotary eccentrm. The eccentric 20 is associated with the power source through suitable gearing 45 and is adapted to simultaneously longitudinally reciprocate. and to transversely vibrate or oscillate the.

feedplate 3, the eccentric strap forming a support for the upper extremity of the plate. The eccentric 20 is merely illustrative of one form of mechanism for vibrating and reciprocating the inclined feed plate, and may be replaced by any suitable mechanism for producing forward feeding motion of the plate. The plate 3"may .be provided with integral guide ways 22 preferably forming parallel recesses. extending, longitudinally of the plate. The upper, extremity of the plate 3 is adapted to receive beans 15 or similar elongated bodies, in succession from thesupply hopper 2. The hopper 2 may be provided with any suitwould merely complicate disclosure of the invention. The lowere'xtremity of the feed plate 3 is associated with the upper end of a stationary feed plate 4 which is supported 7 from the frame 'ofth'e-machine in any suitablei'manner. Thefeed plate 4: is'provided with integral parallel guide ways 23 extending longitudinally of the plate and locatedin alinement with the lower extremities. of the movable guide ways 22 of the plate 3. The guide ways .22, 23 are preferably formed of sufficient depth to prevent dis'placem'entof the beans 15 from between them, and are spaced apart sufiicient distance to permit free longitudinal passage of the beans 15 between them.

The continuouslymovable endless bean transporting and inverting element shown diagrammatically in Figs. 1 and 2and in detail in Figs. 5 and'6 comprises a series of parallelfsheet metal members 30 forming a multiplicity of pockets '5. The transporting element has'upper and lower curved or semicircular portions connected by parallel inclined stretches of beanholding pockets 5.] The pocket-s5 are'of width substantially equal to the distance between the guide ways 23 of the stationary feed plate 24:, and are preferably made about three inches deep in order to enable the average bean. when disposedwithin a pocket, to' project some distance beyond theends thereof. The front and rear walls'of the pockets 5 at the curved portions of the endless element, diverge outwardly thereby facilitating longitudinal entry of the beans 15 delivered from the stationary feed platet. The walls of the pockets 5 forming the stretches of the'end less element, areparallel and hold theibeans in parallel-spaced relation to each other. The transversely extending sheet metal members 30 havelateral medial projections 43 which extend longitudinally of the endless element and which loosely coact in slots formed in the adjacent members 30 as shown in Fig. 5, to form the side walls of the pockets 5-. Thecoaction between the projections 43 and the slots of the adjacent- 'members 30, is such as to preserve the continuity of the movable endlesselement, but at the same time permitting free travel or advancement of the element around the curves, The ends of the members 30 are provided with" brackets42 secured to lugs 41 on the chain links &0, these chains forming supports for the pocket members 30. The chain links 40 coact with the teeth of the upper andlower' sprockets 6, 7, respectively, which are secured to main shafts 29, 28 respectively, rotatably mounted in ad justable bearings not shown, which are secured to the machine framing. .The sprockets 6, 7 and shafts 29, 28 thus form supports for the endless transporting and inverting element. Motion is transmitted from the power source 52 to the lower shaft 28 and sprockets 7, by means of suitable gearing 50 as shown in Fig. 2, and from the lower sprockets 7 to the upper sprockets 6 through the chain links 10. Below the openings 'of the active bean transportingpockets 5 are located stationary guide plates 18, 19 as shown in Fig. 1. These guide plates 18, 19 prevent the beans 15 from dropping from within the pockets 5. The upper guide plate 18 is located adjacent the inner extremities of the active upper pockets 5 while the lower guide plate 19 closes the outer extremities of the active lower pockets 5 after inversion of the pockets. The guide plates 18, 19 are spaced slightly from the adjacent extremities of the pockets 5.

Adjacent the inner ends of the pockets 5 and in proximity to an elongated transverse opening in the upper guide plate, is located a revoluble upper cutter 8 having a support ing shaft 24 mounted in suitable adjustable bearings on the stationary framing. This cutter 8 is rotatable in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, by means of gearing 16 associated with the upper main shaft 29, said gearing including a sprocket 35 associated with an end of. the cutter shaft 24 as illustrated in Fig. 3. The speed of rotation of the upper cutter 8 is such that the cutting blade 33 thereof passes the inner open ends of each transverse series of the advancing pockets 5 of the endless pocket element. Below the cutter 8 is located a snipping catch trough 11 which is adapted to deliver bean snippings to the side of the machine in an obvious'manner. The upper cutter 8 is adapted to shear off the inner ends of the beans 15 as they are urged past the opening in the plate 18 by the advancing pockets 5.

Adjacent the lower extremity of the upper guide plate 18 and cotiperating with the outer open extremities of the pockets 5 as they advance around the lower curve of the endless element, is located a rotary pushing device 13 provided with bean pushing surfaces and secured to a shaft 27.

The shaft 27 is mounted in adjustable bearings in the stationary framing and is rotatable in an anti-clockwise direction as The lower guide plate begins adjacent the pushing device 13 and terminates beyond the mid portion of the lower stretch of pockets 5. Adjacent the outer ends of the inverted pockets 5 and in proximity to an elongated transverse opening in the lower guide plate 19, is located a revolving lower'cutter 9 having a supporting shaft 24 mounted in suitable adjustable bearings on'the stationary framin This cutter 9 is rotatable in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in ig. 1, by means of reversing gearing 48 associated with the lower main shaft 28. The speed of rotation of the lower cutter 9 is such that the cutting blade 33 thereof passes the outer open ends of each transverse series of the advancing pockets 5 of the endless pocket element. Below the cutter 9 is located a snipping catch trough 12. which is adapted to deliver bean snippings to the side, of the machine in an obvious manner. The lower cutter 9 is adapted to shear off the outer ends of the beans 15 as they are urged past the first opening in the plate 19. Beyond the cutter opening in the, plate 19, is a second transverse opening adjacent which is located a chute 16 having parallel guide ways thereon. The advancing series of pockets 5 are successively communicable at their outer extremities with this chute 16, through the second plate openlng.

A revolving final cutter 10 is associated with the lower extremity of the discharge chute 16. This cutter 10 is mounted on a shaft 24 journaled in suitable adjustable bearings on the main frame, and is revoluble by means of gearing 47 associated with the maln shaft 28. The speed of rotation of the cutter 10 is such that the beans 15 as tllO-F slide down the chute 16, will be cut into the desired lengths or pieces 17, suitable for packing. The bean pieces 17 are deliverabie by the cutter 10 upon a picking table comprising an endless traveling band 14: cooperating with rotary rollers 25. The picking table roller 25 shown in the drawing. is rotatable in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, by means of reversing gearing 51 associated directly with the roller shaft 26 and with the power source 52. '7

The cutters 8, 9 and 10 are of like construction, the detailed structure being illustrated in Figs. 3 and e. Upon thecutter shaft 2 is fixedly mounted a frame 38 which forms a support for a sheet metal spiral plate 3 1. A cutter blade is secured to the outer extremity of the spiral plate 34; and has a cutting edge extending parallel to the axis of the shaft 24-. The inner end of the plate 34: has a spring portion 39 which is biased inwardly toward the shaft 2 1. and which is parallel to the cutter l 33. Fixedly attached to the inner 701-. n of the spring portion 39 is an adjusting ele1nent'32 having a surface inclined relatively to the axis of the shaft 2-1. Between this inclined surface and the hub of the frame 38 is a movable wedge 31 which'may be shifted longitudinally of the shaft 2i by means of nuts 37 coacting with screxv threads 36 formed on the shaft 24: at opposite ends of the wedge 31. By advancing the wedge 31 relatively to the shaft 21- and element 32, the portion 39 or the spiral plate 341' may be adjusted relatively to the cutter blade 33, to vary the degree oi the cut taken. The portion 39 however always remains parallel to the blade 33 regardless of variations in the position of adjustment of the wedge 31.

Mountedon the stationary frame adjacent each 01' the cutters 8, 9 is located a pair of jarring devices the details of which are shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The jarring devices are located directly behind the links 10 of the pocket supporting chains. Each arring device comprises a reciprocable plunger 53 having an inclined plunger depressing suriace'fie at the forward end thereof, engageable with the cross bars of the successive links 40. The plunger 53 isurged toward and against the adjacent links 40, by means of a helical compression spring 56 located within a stationary cup shaped casing 55. As the successive links 10 ride over the plunger 53 the spring 56 is alternately compressed and released and acts to drive th plunger 53 forward upon its release thereby delivering a sharp blow against each link 40 as it passes. These blows delivered against the pocket supporting chains at opposite ends of the cutters 8, 9 eilcctively shake the beans 15 within the pockets and cau'se'them to freely gravitate against the portions 39 of the cutters and therebyinsure removal of uniform portions of the bean ends, l

-he various elements which come into direct contact with the beans 15, are preferably enameled or otherwise suitably coated so that they may be readily washed or sterilized and thereby kept in sanitary condition. The adjustability of the various bearings of the machine is such as to permit most ellicient and rapid operation of the machine.

Durmg the normal operation of the apparatus, the various elements are set 1n motion I by connection thereof with the power source 52. The direction of movement of the several movable elements is indicated by arrows in Figs. 1 and 2. The beans 15 are then delivered in succession from the supply hopper 2 upon the upper end of the vibratory reciprocating feed plate 3. The moving plate 3 automatically delivers the beans 15 in succession to the stationary guide plate l. As the beans slide down the plate 4, they fall into the pockets 5 of the endless transporting element and assume positions apbody while inverted;

proximately as shown in Fig. 1. The pock ets 5 in their advancement slide the beans 15 along-the upper plate 18 and pass the upper cutter 8.v As the beans 15 pass the upper cutter, their inner ends are automatically removed; Upon reaching the pushing device 13, the beans 15 are urged forwardly in the pockets 5 as shown. The beans are then reversed and urged along the lower guide plate19by the advancing pocket elements 30. As the beans 15 pass the lower cutter 9 their opposite ends are remov-et, thus completing the shipping operation. i The deended beans are eventually delivered by gravity through the second opening in the plate 19 and are deposited upon the chute 1G down which they slide. ,As the beans reach the lower extremity of the chute .16, they are cut into pieces 17 and are delivered tov the picking table, by means or the rapidly rotating final. cutter 10. On the picking table 14, undesirable pieces are removed bylhand, after which packing of the cut beans is effected in the usualmanner.

It will be noted that the machine automatically and effectively feeds en'd ships and finally cuts up the beans without wast ing any material which 'mightbe available for food, and without necessity of manual handling. The action of the machine is positivethroughout and the structure is simple and compact. The cut beans are oi uniform length and alteration in the length may be readily effected by adjustment of the final cutter. The enormous capacity of the ma chine must be obvious when it is noted that the series of pockets 5 are continuous.y advancing and that each series comprises twelve pockets. The device will operate equally well regardless of the lengths of the beans or variations in the sizes thereof. The amount which is snipped from the beans may be made as little as desirableby adjustment of the cutters thus reducing to miniinum'the waste of material. 7 V

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the scope oithe invention to the exact disclosure hereinmade, for obvious modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired tosecure by Letters Patent 1. In a device for removing the ends of bodies, means for removing one end of a body while in a predetermined position, means for inverting said body, means for positively moving said body transversely of its direction of travel during inversion, and means for removing the opposite end of said 2. In a device for removing the ends of bodies, means for jarring and for cutting oil one end of a body while in a predeterminedposition, means for inverting said moving a body transversely of its is th, means for removing one end of said body While in motion,

'nverting said body, means for ving said body longitudinally .sion and means for removing -v while inverted.

body for inverting said body, and means for snipping the opposite endof'said body while inverted.

6. In a dev co for removing the ends of elongat-edbod s, means for holding a plurality of bodies in substantially a common plane, means for simultaneously jarring said bodies while thus held and means for simultaneously removing the corresponding ends of said bodies while thus held.

7. In a device for removing the ends of elongated bodies, means for holding a plurality of bodies in substantially a common plane, means for simultaneousl jarring said bodies while thus held, and a single cutter for simultaneously snipping the corresponding ends of said bodies while thus held;

8. In device for removing the ends of elongated bodies, means for holding a series of bodies ubstantially parallel to each other, means for simultaneously jarring said bodies while thus held, and means for simultaneously removing like amounts of the corresponding ends of said bodies while thus held.

9. In a device for removing the ends of elongated bodies, means for holding a plurality of bodies ubstantially parallel to each other, means for simultaneously jarring said bodies while thus held and a single cutter for simultaneously snipping the corresponding ends of said bodies while thus held.

10. In device for removing the ends of elongated bodies, means for moving a plurality of bodies substantially parallel to each other, means for simultaneously jar,- ring said bodies while in motion and means for simultaneously removing like amounts of the corresponding ends of said bodies while motion.

11. In a device for removing the ends of elongated bodies, means for moving a plurality of eries of substantially parallel bodies in succession, means for successively jarring the bodies of each series and means for successively removing the corresponding ends of all of the bodies in each series.

12. In a device for removing'the end of elongated bodies, means for producing motion of translation of a plurality of substantially parallel bodies, means for simultaneously jarring said bodies at a predetermined time, and means for simultaneously removing the corresponding ends of all of said bodies during said translatory motion.

18. In a device for removing the ends of elongated bodies, means for holding a plurality or" bodies in predetermined positions, means for jarring said bodies while thus held, means for removing the corresponding ends of all of said bodies while thus held, means for inverting said bodies, and means for removing the opposite ends of all of said bodies while inverted.

14. In a device for removing the ends of elongated bodies, means for holding a plurality of bodies in predetermined positions, means for simultaneously snipping the corresponding ends of said bodies while thus held, means for simultaneously inverting said bodies, means for simultaneouslypositively moving said bodies transversely of their direction of travel during inversion, and means for simultaneously snipping the opposite ends of said bodies while inverted.

15. In a device for removing the ends of elongated bodies, means for advancing bodies in succession and for holding each body in a predetermined position, means for successively snipping corresponding ends of said bodies, means for inverting said bodies successively, means for simultaneously positively moving said bodies transversely of their direction of travel during inversion, and means for successively snipping the opposite ends of said bodies.

16. In a device for removing the ends of elongated bodies, means for advancing series each comprising a plurality of bodies in succession and for holding each body in a predetermined position, means for simulta neously jarring the bodies of each series, means for simultaneously snipping corresponding ends of the bodies in a series and for subsequently snipping the ends of the bodies in a succeeding series, means for successively inverting the series of bodies, and means for successively snipping the opposite ends of the bodies in said series.

17. In combination, a plurality of pockets adapted to hold elongated bodies end downward, means for removing the lower ends of bodies while thus held within said pocklets, means for positively moving said bodies Cir longitudinally of said pockets, and means for subsequently removing theopposite ends of; said bodies; a

18. In combination, a plurality of pockets adapted to hold elongatedbodies enddownward, means for removing the lower ends of bodies While thus held within said pock- ,ets, means for positively moving said bodies longitudinally of said pockets and for i11 verting said pocketsand the bodies therein, and-'means for subsequently removing the opposite ends of said bodies.

19. In combination, a series of movable open ended pochetsadapted to receive elongated bodies, means located in proximity to the inner ends of said pockets for removing the corresponding ends of bodies therein, means located in proximity to, the" opposite ends of said'pockets for removing the oppositeends 01" said bodies, and means for subsequently cutting said bodies into pieces.

j 20. In combination, a series of open ended pockets, means for feeding elongated bodies into said pockets, means for removing the 1 was all oi said pockets, and means for simulta' 24. In combination, a cutter, a series ot pockets simultaneously movable past said cutter, and means for jarring all of said pockets while-inproximity to said cutter.

25. In a device for removing the ends of elongated bodies, means for giving a body motion of translation only in a direction transversely of its length While said body is held end downward, a rotary cutter or shipping the lower end of said body du said translatory motion, means for inverting said body and for positively moving it longitudinally'during inversion, and a rotary cutter for snipping the opposite end of said body While inverted.

26. In a snipping machine, meansfor giving a bean motion of translation only in a direction transversely of its length while said bean is held enddownw'ard, a rotary cutter for'snipping. the lower end of said bean during said translatory motion, means for subsequently inverting said body and for positively moving the same longitudinally during inverstion, and means for snipping the opposite end or". said body.

In. testimony whereof, the signature ot'.

the inventor is affixed hereto.

NICHOLAS A. JOHANNES. 

